Source:REUTERS/VCG
[Saba Sports News] The President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia, Tengku Zafrul, recently proposed during a speech to lower the recruitment age for the national youth team from 16 to 13 years old. Tengku Zafrul believes that reducing the age to 13 could further expand the talent selection pool, potentially uncovering children who exhibit badminton talent at an earlier stage but have previously gone unnoticed. Incorporating young players earlier would help sustain the development of the youth training system and provide more opportunities for the country’s talent reserves in badminton.
At the same time, the Badminton Association of Malaysia stated that they would not overlook promising young talents who are under 16 and have shown outstanding performance. They will provide monthly allowances and financial support for participating in tournaments based on specific circumstances. During school holidays, these young talents will also be invited to train at the Malaysian Badminton Academy.
The editor believes that lowering the recruitment age may not be a good thing. Thirteen-year-olds have relatively weaker psychological resilience and may face pressure from competitions and matches after entering the national youth team. If they cannot cope effectively, it could lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.